OpenPyro System

Hey, guys
We are working on the pyrotechnics control device for 1024 channels (32 receivers with 32 channels) that can be controlled either by a control panel or in auto mode by PC.
The device is based on the open Arduino board, it can be very easily built up and it is compatible to the existing systems. Using it gives you possibility to conduct not only pyro- but pyromusical shows.
We are planning to make the device source code open but before doing it we’d like to get your opinions in order to consult your needs and interests.

Since its launch in 2009 the OpenPyro device has got a number of prototypes and versions.
Today, having come up with the optimal solution we propose to watch the video.

Re: OpenPyro System

Originally Posted by Open_Pyro

Hey, guysWe are working on the pyrotechnics control device for 1024 channels (32 receivers with 32 channels) that can be controlled either by a control panel or in auto mode by PC. The device is based on the open Arduino board, it can be very easily built up and it is compatible to the existing systems. Using it gives you possibility to conduct not only pyro- but pyromusical shows.We are planning to make the device source code open but before doing it we’d like to get your opinions in order to consult your needs and interests. Since its launch in 2009 the OpenPyro device has got a number of prototypes and versions.Today, having come up with the optimal solution we propose to watch the video.
For more details you can find us at www.openpyro.com, blog.openpyro.com or twitter @openpyrofx Any feedback is welcome!Additional info about PC control software http://www.feuerwerk-forum.de/showthread.php?t=24096

I wish I could read and write German. I only studied Latin and Spanish.

Re: OpenPyro System

Hmm it seems not to work I connected an arduino on COM5 but dont see any data flowing ? (tx/RX stay blank) I wanted to see how the data is build so i can write my own arduino program to use for my firing system. Any sugestions ?

*edit:

It seems to work now I had to arm the system before it is working haha. Lucky enough im living at the german border so i can read some german

Re: OpenPyro System

In the core the control device consists of ready units which it is necessary to connect correctly among themselves wires. So control device manufacture will be very simple on an instruction photo. Only it is necessary to buy Arduino Nano with microcontroller Atmega328!

Additional discrete elements are necessary for:
1. Control of a state of the accumulator (two resistors - 20 kOm, 1 kOm)
2. Display contrast controls (the resistor 1 kOm and the condenser 1 mF)
3. Display brightness controls (transistor BC337-40 and two resistors - 510 Om, 5 Om)
4. Connections on the twisted pair cable with receivers OpenPyro (chip ST485 and the condenser 1 mF) - wire usage more reliably in comparison with radio the channel also gives high-speed performance 0,0035 sec for transmission of one command to the receiver, and also length of a communication line to 1200 m.

Are in addition necessary: mounting wires, a mounting board, the supply cutout, a bay for the battery and the antenna.

I recommend as to buy connectors PBS and PLS for connection Arduino Nano, LCD the display and the keypad with a mounting board.

Re: OpenPyro System

Interesting project and nice work!

Do you have plans and a parts list for a USB attached transmitter that works with your open source firing software? I found a commercial product in your videos but was curious to know if a similar device is part of your open source hardware effort.

Re: OpenPyro System

Thanks for your question.

Before I didn't think of the simple transmitter only for control from the PC.
It very simply to make - for this purpose the unit is required to you Arduino Nano and radio. In upcoming version of the source code I will include the circuit and an insertion for such device.

Re: OpenPyro System

Currently we didn’t yet come to the mass production of our systems. Preliminary we would like to know your opinion of the developed prototypes. We’re interesting in your likes and dislikes about it. It is necessary to us to know what you would like to see in our devices.
On the bases of prototypes we wish to set whether there will be demand on our product. In the total, in case of positive result, devices can go out into a sale, while firmware will be accessible free of charge.

Re: OpenPyro System

In my humble opinion, the demand for any system will be based on the price point per cue, which seems to Hoover around the $10-15 US mark. There is a limit to the number of hobbyists and pyro-guys who can afford these types of systems, knowing that to get 100 cues is going to bring costs into the thousand plus dollar range. Have you thought about how your product could be used to change the market. I was thinking about you remote and it's ability to adapt to frequenceies. Wouldn't it be cool if you were able to leverage your technology with pyro manufacturers for the purpose of imbedding internal RF ID matches into their cakes so that all you would have to do is place the cake in the field, match your remote to the RF ID codes printed on the sides of the cakes, and establish the wireless connection between the cake and your remote. You would then enter the cue number for the cake into the remote so that it fire in the order you want or to an assigned button. Imagine not having to run wire and e-matches for a shoot. The additional cost of adding the RF chips and electronics to the cakes would be offset by the time saved in wiring your show, and no longer needing e-matches and scab wire.

Re: OpenPyro System

Originally Posted by cjohnson

In my humble opinion, the demand for any system will be based on the price point per cue, which seems to Hoover around the $10-15 US mark. There is a limit to the number of hobbyists and pyro-guys who can afford these types of systems, knowing that to get 100 cues is going to bring costs into the thousand plus dollar range. Have you thought about how your product could be used to change the market. I was thinking about you remote and it's ability to adapt to frequenceies. Wouldn't it be cool if you were able to leverage your technology with pyro manufacturers for the purpose of imbedding internal RF ID matches into their cakes so that all you would have to do is place the cake in the field, match your remote to the RF ID codes printed on the sides of the cakes, and establish the wireless connection between the cake and your remote. You would then enter the cue number for the cake into the remote so that it fire in the order you want or to an assigned button. Imagine not having to run wire and e-matches for a shoot. The additional cost of adding the RF chips and electronics to the cakes would be offset by the time saved in wiring your show, and no longer needing e-matches and scab wire.

Neat idea but probably can't be done with RFID tags as that is not how they work. They are used to read information from, rather than to receive it and act on it.

Passive RFID tags have to be triggered by a field generated by the device reading them. These have to be within about three feet of the device in most cases, or up to 20 feet if using UHF frequencies.

The active tags, with their own power source have a range of up to 300 feet. They are not triggered by the reader as such but broadcast their information periodically at certain times.

Re: OpenPyro System

Dear Open Pyro

I have got some problems with the control device.
1)I can't upload the Open Pyro transmitter file in to my arduino.I have this error message<'RCSwitch'does not name a type>What is this error?Can you help me?
2)In your electronic circuit have you got AURE TX-SAW 433 for the transmitter.Is this beter for the AUREL-TX4MDIL TRANSMITTER, 433MHZ, AM, DIL?
Can i use http://www.hestore.hu/prod_10026545.html this transmitter for biger range?
I want to control DB04r,AlphaFire 12 cue,SuperbFire 32 cue.